The council’s proposed Annual Plan 2026/2027 is out now for all Aucklanders’ to have their say. The plan includes a proposed rates increase of 7.9 per cent for the average value residential property.
What does the annual plan mean for next year’s rates?
Each annual plan sets out rates for the year and the average increases or changes ratepayers can expect. A 7.9 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property is proposed for 2026/2027 (for the average value residential property).
Rates make up less than 40 per cent of council income and contribute significantly to the quality of life Aucklanders’ have. They help maintain and enhance the infrastructure, parks, facilities, activities and services that make Auckland a great place to live.
Rates help us invest in services and activities for our communities – improving public transport, maintaining parks, museums and art galleries, environmental services, rubbish collection and community facilities.
What’s the extra rates delivering?
A major highlight this year is the expected start of the City Rail Link (CRL), which will transform Auckland’s public transport. The CRL is a key investment for Auckland and is bringing a range of benefits to Auckland.
As CRL opens in 2026, the council will have additional annual costs come into play. These costs are the primary driver of the 7.9 per cent rates increase. The CRL will enhance Aucklanders’ ability to move around the region by delivering more trains and quicker, easier journeys. It will also bring economic and environmental benefits.
2026/2027 will see the council invest $3.9 billion into new capital infrastructure projects across Auckland – helping deliver a region with the physical assets it needs to thrive and grow. We will also invest $5.3 billion into continuing essential services Aucklanders rely on (operating costs). For more highlight projects for 2026-2027, read on.
Will all ratepayers have an extra 7.9 per cent to pay?
Not every household will pay exactly 7.9 per cent more – that is the increase for the average residential property (valued $1.28 million). Rates vary based on the capital value of each property. Individual properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates which might impact the rates change. Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property. See our online rates guide.
What is the average cost of rates?
For the average household, annual rates are proposed to increase by around $320 next year – from $4055 in 2025-2026 to $4375 in 2026/2027. This is a total weekly rates cost of around $84, or $6.16 more a week. These figures are based on an average $1.28m capital value (CV) residential property. Capital values help us share rates fairly across all property owners, and are only for setting rates.
How can I see what rates I will pay next year?
To find out estimated rates for your property during 2026/2027, see our online rates guide.
Are there changes to any targeted rates?
Targeted rates contribute to specific services or projects and are generally set across all ratepayers, or to specific ratepayers in certain areas.
Individual properties may see some changes to targeted rates. Proposed changes include: – the future of the Waitakere Rural Sewerage Scheme (affecting the associated targeted rate from 2027/2028 onward) – a proposed new local services targeted rate for Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board – a proposed new local services targeted rate for Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board
There are also several proposed changes to other targeted rates: – a proposed reduction to the area of the Onehunga Business Improvement District (BID) and changes to the BID targeted rate – a proposed expansion of the Kingsland BID and changes to the BID targeted rate – a proposed reduction in the Rodney Drainage District targeted rate for properties in the Te Arai Drainage District.
What about business rates?
Under our rates policy, businesses contribute 31 per cent of the rates revenue. In 2026/2027, the rates for an average value business property ($3.89 million) will rise by 9.84 per cent.
What about farm and lifestyle rates?
The rates for an average value farm/ lifestyle property will increase by 8.37 per cent in 2026/2027.
Individual business and farm/lifestyle properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates which might impact the rates change. Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property.
Rates increase numbers indicated in this article are subject to adoption of the council’s final budget in June 2026 and updated property information.
What is Auckland Council doing to cut costs?
Auckland Council is focused on delivering value for money and continues to forecast some of the lowest rates increases in New Zealand.
While the overall rates rise is higher than the council would like – we have delivered savings and increased efficiency across the council that have helped reduce what could have been an even higher rates rise.
For 2026–2027, we have set a savings target of $106 million, which includes an additional $20 million in annual savings as part of our ongoing commitment to financial sustainability. The $106 million equates to around 3.5 per cent of rates revenue.
In addition to savings, the council utilises value for money reviews, a Better Value Projects approach, a focus on non-rates revenue, sales of under-utilised assets and an ongoing focus on driving value for every dollar to manage new priorities and changing demands for the future.
How are rates calculated?
Rates increases for individual residential properties may differ from the average 7.9 per cent.
Rates vary based on the capital value of each property, its classification (residential, business farm or short-term accommodation) and location (urban or rural). Individual properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates.
If a property’s value has increased (such as due to renovation work) or decreased, its rates increase might be lower or higher than the average change.
Read more about rates on the council website.
Our online rates guide provides estimated rates for each property in 2026/2027.
Joint Declaration Uruguay – New Zealand on the occasion of the visit to Uruguay of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand
(Montevideo, March 3, 2026)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand expressed their satisfaction with the excellent state of the bilateral relationship, highlighting that both countries maintain a strong and enduring friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, ties have broadened and deepened, benefiting their peoples through their long-standing cooperation, which has been mutually beneficial and supported the prosperity of both nations.
Both Ministers underscored that the partnership between Uruguay and New Zealand is grounded in a deep alignment of values and a shared vision regarding the defense of multilateralism, democracy, and human rights, as well as in their openness to the world and shared character as small, open democracies, which makes Uruguay and New Zealand natural partners.
They emphasised that respect for international law and international humanitarian law constitutes an essential element for international peace and security. They reaffirmed the importance of strengthening global environmental governance, including upholding the Antarctic Treaty System that protects Antarctica as a natural reserve for peace and science.
The Ministers reaffirmed their support for upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Venezuela, and stressed the importance of the people of Venezuela determining their country’s political future. Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to the sustainable restoration of democratic order in Venezuela. They reiterated the importance of releasing all persons unjustly and arbitrarily detained for political reasons and for exercising freedom of opinion and expression, a central element for laying the foundations for a genuine and constructive political dialogue.
Ministers reflected that the conflict with Iran is a complex and dangerous situation that is evolving rapidly. Both countries expressed their serious concern about further military escalation in the region and agreed that adherence to international law and respect for International Humanitarian Law, military deescalation and diplomacy is of the utmost importance.
They also emphasised their shared commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law, including the UN Charter in accordance with the principles of territorial integrity, sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The Ministers underscored their commitment to the empowerment of women and girls, including the promotion of their full and effective participation in all spheres, and combating all forms of gender-based violence. They further reaffirmed that social cohesion, integration, and equal opportunities are fundamental pillars of democratic stability. In this context, they highlighted their determination to address all forms of discrimination and to ensure the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons in vulnerable situations, as well as to continue coordinating positions and promoting joint initiatives in multilateral fora to consolidate more inclusive societies that respect human dignity.
In the field of international trade, and in light of a challenging global context, Uruguay and New Zealand reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core. They underscored the fundamental role of the WTO in promoting a fair, predictable, transparent, and non-discriminatory trading environment, and highlighted the need to advance its reform process to strengthen its negotiating, dispute settlement, and monitoring functions. They also expressed their expectation of substantive progress at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held from March 26 to 29, 2026, in Cameroon.
Both countries highlighted their joint work as founding members of the Cairns Group to promote deep and meaningful reform aimed at advancing toward a more open, equitable, and market-oriented agricultural trading system, in accordance with the mandate of Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Cairns Group, they recognized its role in driving agricultural negotiations since the Uruguay Round.
In order to build prosperity through trade and economic linkages, the Ministers emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P), which promotes open, inclusive, and rules-based trade, as well as the encouragement of responsible and sustainable foreign direct investment flows. They also noted Uruguay’s request to accede to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), and to join the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA), as well as its efforts to deepen engagement with the Asia-Pacific region through various negotiating frameworks.
The Government of Uruguay expressed its appreciation for the renewed confidence of New Zealand business in the conditions of the domestic market, reflected in increased business connections and investments in high value-added sectors, such as forestry and technology applied to agribusiness, including the recent opening of MonteSera’s animal sera processing and export plant in the Parque de las Ciencias Free Trade Zone.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the development of more resilient and environmentally sustainable production systems. They recalled that Uruguay and New Zealand are founding members of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), where they actively cooperate to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector through science, technology, and sustainable practices. They also highlighted the continued validity of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Agriculture and Livestock signed in 2019.
New Zealand and Uruguay reiterate their firm commitment to substantive and constructive progress in the negotiations of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (INC). Both countries agreed on the need to adopt a Treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics. In this context, both parties reaffirmed the importance of redoubling efforts and continuing to collaborate actively for the protection of human health and the environment.
Both Ministers agreed that strengthening people-to-people ties constitutes an essential component of the bilateral relationship. In this regard, they highlighted the importance of deepening exchanges in tourism, education, science, culture, and youth, including the reciprocal nature of the Working Holiday programs.
Finally, they reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to promote their shared interests and values, and expressed their willingness to maintain a fluid political dialogue and regular meetings, both bilaterally and in the framework of international gatherings.
Fresh data out this week shows international visitors are returning to New Zealand in droves and visitor spend is on the up, supporting local business and jobs across the country.
The latest International Visitor Survey showed international tourism contributed $12.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy for the year ending December 2025, up 3 per cent compared to the previous year.
“We have seen a really positive recovery of tourist numbers post-Covid, with visitor numbers at 90 per cent of 2019 levels (3.89 million). These latest results show annual spend has been steadily increasing since the borders reopened to international visitors,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“International visitor spend from some countries has now surpassed or nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with our Aussie cousins contributing $3.0 billion — 111 per cent of their 2019 spend — and visitors from the United States contributing $1.5 billion, reaching 97 per cent of 2019 levels.
“Overall median spend per visitor ($2,248, up 3 per cent) and median daily spend ($309, up 8 per cent) are all up which means visitors are spending more in our accommodation, restaurants and local businesses, giving a significant boost to the economy.”
“These results highlight why the work we’re doing to boost our tourism and hospitality sector is so important.
“International tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest export earner and we are laser focussed on growing this vital sector, by doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034.”
“Overall, the resilience of the tourism industry is evident. Whether visitors are drawn by New Zealand’s landscapes, our welcoming culture, or the quality of the experiences on offer, the continued rise in visitor numbers and spending underscores tourism’s role in fixing the basics and building the future.
“More international visitors mean more customers for our businesses and ultimately more jobs.”
Editor’s note
The International Visitor Survey from MBIE is released every quarter and contains data for that quarter and for the year ending that quarter. Further details on data quality (sample sizes, response rates, margins of error) are available here.
A new CT scanner is now operational at Wairarapa Hospital, marking a significant upgrade to diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This $2.46 million investment will strengthen diagnostic services for Wairarapa, bringing faster, more reliable imaging closer to home and improving access for local patients,” Mr Brown says.
“The previous end-of-life CT scanner has experienced regular outages, disrupting care and delaying appointments. The new, modern scanner will significantly improve reliability and capability, providing faster imaging, better technology, and a more consistent experience for patients and staff.”
“The upgrade is expected to deliver around a five percent increase in output and productivity, supporting faster diagnosis, stronger cancer pathways, and better access to imaging for both inpatients and outpatients.
“It will also strengthen the wider regional diagnostics network, ensuring hospitals are better able to manage demand and maintain timely care across the region.
“By investing in frontline infrastructure like this, we are ensuring regional communities like Wairarapa get the quality care they deserve.
“This is about putting patients at the centre of our health system – investing in the infrastructure and technology that supports frontline clinicians, strengthens regional services, and ensures communities like Wairarapa can rely on modern, quality care now and into the future,” Mr Brown says.
Two offenders tried it on, and failed, after an alleged shoplifting at a clothing retailer.
The pair face court today after Police caught up with them in west Auckland on Tuesday morning.
Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager Acting Inspector Nick Salter says around 11am a unit was travelling through Henderson CBD, when a shoplifting was reported.
“A vehicle had been parked outside the retailer on Great North Road, with three people reported to be stealing clothing from inside,” he says.
“The offenders were confronted by staff, before they fled to the vehicle with stolen property.”
A Police unit came across the vehicle a short time later.
“Officers signalled for the vehicle to stop, however it failed to do so and sped away,” he says.
“The unit did not pursue and lost sight of the vehicle.”
A short time later units saw the vehicle again on Lincoln Road, not far from where it had originally been signalled to stop for Police.
“Eagle deployed into the area and was quickly above the vehicle, tracking its movements,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“When the vehicle stopped at a red-light officers took the opportunity to apprehend the occupants.”
With the alleged offenders in custody Police were able to conduct further enquires.
“We discovered that the plates on the vehicle did not match the VIN number, and the correct registration showed it as stolen,” Acting Inspector Salter says.
“This was great work by our staff in continuing to follow up and look out for this vehicle until it was eventually found and the alleged offenders taken into custody.”
Two men, with gang links, will appear in court.
A 24-year-old man will appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting, failing to stop and cannabis-related offences.
A 34-year-old man will also appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with shoplifting.
New Zealand and Uruguay have reaffirmed their natural partnership as small, open democracies, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
“Today’s discussions in Montevideo have underlined that New Zealand and Uruguay have much in common, as small, export-oriented countries buffeted by global forces over which we have little control,” Mr Peters says.
“In these uncertain and challenging times, it’s vital that small, like-minded countries such as New Zealand and Uruguay work together to protect and advance our mutual interests.
“We should be promoting democracy, human rights and the international, rules-based system, and deepening our long-standing and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. There is broad scope for doing more together, including on trade policy, education, sport, science and culture.”
Mr Peters held official talks today with Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin – after which the two Foreign Ministers released a Joint Statement. Mr Peters is accompanied in Uruguay by a Parliamentary and business delegation.
“Our discussions with the President and Foreign Minister highlighted how much Uruguay welcomes the significant New Zealand business engagement here – and the potential for this to grow further, especially in high value-added sectors, such as forestry and agribusiness technology. Uruguay and New Zealand also have an abiding interest in trading arrangements that boost exports,” Mr Peters says.
“We also talked about major international issues, including developments in Iran, Ukraine, and Venezuela and the geo-strategic environments in both Latin America and the Indo-Pacific.”
Mr Peters will also attend a New Zealand-Uruguay friendship dinner in Montevideo tonight where he and the accompanying business and parliamentary delegation will meet and exchange perspectives with government officials and private sector representatives. He will also acknowledge the contribution of New Zealand Honorary Consul to Uruguay, Ricardo Shaw, for his 13 years of distinguished service.
Mr Peters and the Parliamentary and business delegation leave for Brazil tomorrow, before programmes later in the week in Chile (Santiago and Rapa Nui) and French Polynesia.
The procurement of a new Chatham Islands supply vessel has hit another major milestone with the signing of a ship delivery agreement, paving the way for its construction to begin.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the milestone ensures the 77-metre-long vessel’s delivery by the end of 2027, ahead of the current Southern Tiare ship’s retirement.
“The vessel is an economic and community lifeline for the Chatham Islands. The new ship meets locals’ needs and ensures a reliable, long-term service which can be scaled up to grow alongside the Chathams over the next 20 years,” Mr Meager says.
“The ship, which will be bigger than the nearly 40-year-old Southern Tiare, has been designed to cover all freight requirements. This includes the ability to carry livestock, fuel, vehicles, general and bulk freight.
“This increase in capacity and service reliability will strengthen sectors such as fishing, farming and tourism. Importantly, it provides certainty to businesses and the community.”
The contract with 44 South Shipping Limited Partnership, the joint venture of McCallum Bros Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers, follows last year’s preferred supplier decision.
“I want to thank the Chatham Islands community for its patience and cooperation throughout this process. With negotiations concluded, we now have certainty around cost, delivery timeframes, and performance expectations,” Mr Meager says.
“With this agreement, we have secured reliable and affordable shipping services between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand for the coming decades.
“This is a great outcome for the people in our most remote community, and is another example of our commitment to fixing the basics and building the future.”
Notes to Editor:
The Government began a procurement process in March 2025. It selected the joint venture involving McCallum Bros Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers SA (44 South Shipping Limited Partnership) as the preferred supplier in September 2025.
The Crown is funding $24.3 million towards the cost of the new vessel. The ship’s total cost is commercially sensitive.
The new ship’s length was previously reported to be 78 metres. This has now been confirmed to be 77 metres, following the vessel’s design finalisation.
Hunting in Fiordland National Park. Photo: George Ledgard.
Hunting is part of New Zealand’s outdoor heritage. For many people, it’s how they were first introduced to the bush. Early starts, learning to read the land and weather, the thrill of the chase, spending time with friends and family, passing knowledge down through generations, and enjoying the harvest.
Hunting also offers something more. It’s a way to connect with nature, to understand the places we care about, and to play a part in protecting them for the future.
Seeing the forest up close
When you’re hunting, you see animal sign, hear birdsong, and notice where the good feed and habitat is, or isn’t. This is naturing. Many hunters can tell which areas are recovering, and which are under pressure from browsing wild animals like deer and goats. Hunters’ observations often match what monitoring shows: where browsing is high, the forest is less diverse and preferred plants struggle to regenerate; where deer numbers are lower, those same plants recover 1–3. Hunters also see that reflected in the condition of the animals they harvest, animals are in better condition in when numbers are low.
That observation is one reason many hunters value healthy ecosystems and support conservation outcomes. Across the country, hunters already give back in practical ways by trapping predators, maintaining huts, reporting wild animal sightings, and contributing to local conservation projects.
For many, hunting is both recreation and stewardship.
Introduced wild animals such as deer, pigs, tahr, and goats are becoming more widespread and abundant across New Zealand. When numbers are high, they browse heavily on seedlings and understory plants. Over time, this can change forest structure and reduce the ability of native plants to regenerate and replenish the canopy. This then puts pressure on the habitats our native species depend on.
Recreational hunters help reduce numbers across many parts of the country. More than 7 million hectares of public conservation land is available for hunting, and hunter effort plays a part in managing wild animal numbers across this wider landscape.
But there’s an important reality to be clear about. Recreational hunting on its own isn’t enough to reduce animal numbers to levels that protect forest health in many areas. Research and expert commentary in New Zealand indicate relying on recreational hunting alone, without additional targeted control, often isn’t sufficient to reduce animals to low numbers that allow species preferred by introduced wild deer and goats to regenerate in our forests. It’s not a criticism of hunters. It reflects the scale of the ecological challenge.
In our own monitoring, sites with high deer numbers, like Ruahine Forest Park, show clear signs of browsing pressure on key plant species.
Why DOC needs to do intensive, targeted management
Some populations of introduced wild animals, particularly wild deer, are breeding faster than they’re being hunted. Current estimates suggest there are over 1 million wild deer in New Zealand. With a reproductive rate of around 20-30%, that means more than 300,000 new wild deer are added to the population each year. It takes a coordinated effort to keep numbers at levels that protect forest health. In many areas, the annual offtake needed just to stop populations growing is beyond what recreational hunting can achieve on its own. That’s why collective, targeted work is needed in high priority places to make a difference.
Red deer. Photo: John Neilsen.
DOC focuses intensive management on around 1.4 million hectares of high-priority conservation land, where biodiversity values are highest. Including, about 1.2 million hectares where the aim is to reduce browsing pressure from wild goats at priority sites.
Healthy forests aren’t just about trees. They provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and other native species. Every plant and animal plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced and more resilient to changing conditions, including climate change. When introduced wild animals browse heavily, key plants struggle to survive, and the animals that depend on them are affected. Protecting biodiversity ensures these ecosystems can continue to function, thrive, and be enjoyed by future generations.
In these areas, the level of control needed is beyond what recreational hunting alone can usually achieve. That’s why New Zealand needs to use a mix of tools, selected to suit the location, terrain, and ecological values involved:
Professional ground hunting – trained teams targeting specific populations in specific areas
Aerial control – necessary in remote and rugged areas
Exclusion fencing – to protect sensitive ecological sites
Management hunts – community-led management hunting projects that contribute to the overall effort to manage animals
Commercial Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers
Recreational hunting – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers
All of these tools are used together where and when they’re needed. No single approach will work everywhere.
We need to use a mosaic approach, applying different tools in different places in a coordinated manner. In some areas, sustained and intensive work is required over many years to reduce browsing pressure to levels that allow high priority forests to recover. In some locations, management may include fencing to protect sensitive ecological or land-use values by keeping animals out. In other areas, recreational hunting, or commercial recovery can contribute to reducing numbers across the wider landscape.
Animal exclosure plot in Ruahine Forest Park showing the effect of browsing. Photo: DOC.
DOC ranger hunting. Photo: Karl Drury
Working together for healthy forests
The message is straightforward: hunters are part of the solution and so is targeted DOC management. Protecting New Zealand’s landscapes requires a mix of approaches informed by monitoring and science. Many of DOC’s efforts also involve iwi and hapū, hunters, and local communities working together to get better outcomes for biodiversity.
For example, in Molesworth’s ecologically sensitive Turk’s Head area, we teamed up with volunteers from the Marlborough NZ Deerstalkers Association to give wild goat control a real lift. With us providing coordination, some helicopter support and ammunition, the wide-open country became the perfect place for recreational hunters to make a meaningful contribution. In just a few days, volunteers removed more than 1,000 goats, and our DOC team followed soon after also removing over 1000. Working side by side in the right terrain, this combined effort made a noticeable dent in goat numbers and is part of ongoing work aiming to ease pressure on the rare plants and fragile landscapes that make Molesworth so special.
Lake McRae, Turk’s Head, Molesworth. Photo: DOC.
Get outdoors. Go hunting. Make sure you have a permit. Enjoy the places you care about and be part of looking after them, so nature and everything that depends on it can thrive. And if every hunter knocks over just a few extra animals while they’re out, maybe one for the freezer and one for the forest, it can help reduce numbers across the wider landscape.
1. Nugent, G., Forsyth, D. M., Smith-Flueck, J.-A. M. & Latham, A. D. M. Non-Native Deer: Origins, Status, Impacts, and Management. in Deer of the World: Ecology, Conservation and Management (eds Melletti, M. & Focardi, S.) 887–912 (Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2025). doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17756-9_60.
2. Tanentzap, A. J. et al. Landscape‐level vegetation recovery from herbivory: progress after four decades of invasive red deer control. (2009).
3. Nugent, G., Fraser, W. & Sweetapple, P. Top down or bottom up? Comparing the impacts of introduced arboreal possums and ‘terrestrial’ ruminants on native forests in New Zealand. Biological Conservation 99, 65–79 (2001).
4. Allen, K. et al. Long‐term exclusion of invasive ungulates alters tree recruitment and functional traits but not total forest carbon. Ecological Applications 33, e2836 (2023).
5. Latham, A. D. M. & Nugent, G. Introduction, impacts, and management of non-native deer and other hunted ungulates in New Zealand. Journal of Japan Deer Studies 2017, 41–57 (2017).
6. Fraser, W. The Effect of Recreational Hunters on Deer Populations in Pureora Conservation Park. Science for Conservation 38 (1996).
7. Nugent, G. & Choquenot, D. Comparing cost-effectiveness of commercial harvesting, state-funded culling, and recreational deer hunting in New Zealand. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32, 481–492 (2004).
8. Fraser, K. W. Status and Conservation Role of Recreational Hunting on Conservation Land.
9. Forsyth, D. M., Allen, R. B., Marburg, A. E., MacKenzie, D. I. & Douglas, M. J. Population dynamics and resource use of red deer after release from harvesting in New Zealand. New Zealand journal of ecology 277–287 (2010).
Health agencies more than doubled the number of store visits and controlled purchase operations last year to curb illegal sales of cigarettes and vapes to minors, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today.
“In the 12 months ending 31 December, more than 4,500 controlled purchase operations (CPOs) were carried out across New Zealand – up from around 2,000 the previous year,” Ms Costello says.
“Encouragingly, around 90 per cent of retailers were compliant with requirements, checking IDs and not selling to minors. However, a small number continue to break the rules.”
In the past year, 489 infringement fines were issued, compared to 198 issued the year before. The proportion of stores found to be non-compliant, about one in ten, has remained steady over the past two years.
These stores are increasingly being issued infringement notices, each carrying a fine of up to $2,000, which can be issued without the need for court proceedings.
“The boost in compliance activity has been supported by the recruitment of 18 additional Compliance Officers by Health NZ, most of them in the past year,” Ms Costello says.
“Efforts to reduce harm to young people from smoking and vaping were also further strengthened last year, with the passing of legislation significantly increasing penalties for non-compliance, banning disposable vapes and limiting how vaping products can be displayed in stores and online.
